The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1887-12-23
TEMPERANCE READING.
"ALL OVER"


beauty. sud we who loved him were
glad.
His coffin rested on his drapcd piano,
his banjo and his flute beside il. And
as we looked on his brown curls
thrown up from the cold. white brow,
on his skilled hands folded on his
breast. on his sealed lips. of which wit
and melody had been the very breath
ings. the silence was an awe, n weight
upon us. yet our voiceless thanks rose
up 10 God that he was dead.
Always courteous i'm manner. kind
III word. obliging in act. every body
liked Med, the handsome, brilliant
Ned.
Three generations of ancestors. hon.
orabie gentlemen all. had taken the
social glass rs gentlemen may. but
never lowered themselves 10 drunken
ness-neycr. no. not one; but their
combined appetite they had given rs
an heirloom TO Ned. and from his in
fancy he saw wine offered To- guests in
the dinner parties. and. when he had
been "a perfect little gentleman" was
given by his father one little sip.
He grew and the taste grew. and
when his father was taken all restraint
but mothers love was taken.
As the only child Of PRAYING
mother. now the church would hold
him up. now the saloon would drag
him down: now his rich voice would
join his mothers To swell the anthems
Of the church. now make her night
hideous with his ribald songs. So all
along the years he was her idol and
her woe
When her last sickness was upon her
the mother said Ia friend:
They tell me when am gone Ed |
die VIII go down unchecked. that in |
some wild spree or mad delirium he |
will die. But he will not His fathers |
created the appetite they gave my boy.
His disgrace i their sin. and my sin,
too. He saw il ON our table, tasted il
in our ice-creams. jelli and sauces.
For this my punishment is greater
than | could bear. but for the sure |
faith that God has forgiven me and
will answer my daily. nightly prayers.
and Eddie will die an humble penitent.
Ii l. just that l DC forbidden to enjoy
here the promised land. but I know
Whom believe. and my boy will be
carried safely over
As death drew nigh every breath
was prayer for Eddie" and. as he
chafed her dcath-cold hands, the pallid
UPS formed the words no ear could
catch. -me-in-IIeaven." And
his voice. rich and full. responded, IL
l will
And rs from her mountain height Of
'aith and love she caught glimpse IF
hat promised land" with a seraph's
smile she whispered: "I-thank-
ihee--O-Fathcr." and was gone.
And his uncomfortable grief made
me say 10 another: "His mothers
leath will be his salvation"
he coTered the new-madc grave with I,
lowers. and when Others had left the
cemetery he went back and sat beside
till nightfall. and then went To his
one home. and the oppressive silence
rove him out 10 walk. He passed !,
aloOn: some Of his old associates came !.
uf ana said Kind words Of sympathy.
lis sOnl WAS dark and sad. and from
he open door came light and cheerful =
Oice>. and he went in.
Before the long spree was over he
ade crony take that old book out
my sight :,
That old bcok.-the Bible he had q
zen bis sainted mother read morning. =
ishi. and often midday. and from :.
.hich he had read to her those suffer- =
*. dying days ::
1sien a friend ot his mother took him
) her home and brought him back To p.
'berncss. Temorse. and horror of =,
mself For months he did nobly and =,
ecnme active in Christian work, and =;
'iused all the urging "to just step in a,
id see your old friends and we felt
ere Was JOY in Heaven. r,
Then he was asked to bring his ban ar
and sing at an oyster-supper ut the M
ost respectable saloon ia town. where M
10 one Is ever asked 10 drink" 81,
A Wild spree was the result. and his IN
be WIS 20 mired We doubted IL il I,i
er had been white. And he doubted,
o. lost hope. lost faith IN himself. br
d. worse. lost faith in God. ,h
hind srms were thrown around him, m,
d again he Was placed upon his feet. rel
~ humble. very weak. he tried once l.,
IRE TO walk the Heavenward path. Az
Il am very glad tn see you so WELL" In,